- We have the greatest respect for preventing the spread of infection, but I am very worried about jobs and companies when the restrictions are tightened further, says Jonas Siljhammar.
- Now even more jobs and companies are in danger.
New restrictions
On Wednesday, the government gave the Swedish Public Health Agency new opportunities to limit opening hours for all the country's restaurants and cafés.
The proposal from the authority means that they will close at 20.30 from 1 March, regardless of whether they sell alcohol or not.
According to Jonas Siljhammar, the new restrictions are another blow to an industry that is already bleeding heavily, not least as restaurants and bars have not yet been able to take part in the government's promised support measures.
He therefore calls for new, direct support measures, otherwise more restaurants will strike as it is precisely during the evening hours that most people in the industry bring in the most money.
- Once again, I see a press conference where new restrictions are presented, but no new support is presented for the business ban that this closure actually entails, he says.
"No difference between 20.30 or 22.30"
Jonas Siljhammar also believes that the new restrictions not only risk leading to even more restaurants being forced to close, they are also directly misdirected and will not lead to a reduced spread of infection as the industry has already adapted with, for example, distance and a maximum of four people per table. .
- Anders Tegnell and others from the Public Health Agency have previously been out and said that we do not have any particular spread of infection from restaurants, he says and adds that a couple of hours extra serving time would do a lot for the industry without contributing to increased infection.
- There is no difference in the spread of infection at 20.30 or 22.30.